Latest standards for wheelhouse visibility, emergency escapes, crew and passenger accommodation, and personal safety on domestic commercial vessels. Includes updated requirements for evacuation, signage and preventing falls overboard.

Specifies safety standards for the design, construction, equipping and operation of a domestic commercial vessel that is a leisure craft.

This marine notice draws attention to the importance of providing shore leave to seafarers, for ships visiting Australian ports.

A charter vessel with passengers was conducting a cruise around Sydney Harbour when it narrowly missed an unlit runabout at night. The vessel ran aground, and two attempts to tow the vessel off the sandbank were unsuccessful. The investigation found that the master did not risk-assess the route and respective conditions. The vessel safety management system provided the master with no clear direction on safe routes to follow. The command, control, and communication with and between the crew in relation to emergency procedures and response was ineffective.

The 2019-20 Australian Vessel Traffic Services Award was awarded to Warren Bath, VTS Operator at Hay Point, Queensland, for his coordination of an incident involving a bulk carrier.

Dr Rosalie Balkin was appointed to the AMSA Board on 21 November 2018 for a three year term.

Vessels owned and operated by community groups or clubs may or may not be domestic commercial vessels.

We are responsible for leading national policy on vessel traffic services (VTS).

How to comply with low sulphur fuel requirements.

Prepare and submit your application for a role with us.

Our range of navigation services includes marine navigation and e-navigation.

Instructions for accredited surveyors to conduct surveys and inspections of domestic commercial vessels.

We're running a nation-wide inspection campaign focusing on hazardous gases on domestic commercial vessels from 2 February - 30 April 2026. Find out what to expect and how to prepare.